Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Burdett a hosiery manufacturer, born 1850 in Wanlip, Leicestershire, and his wife Emily Burdett (nee Edwards, married on the 24th August 1882 in Weddington, Warwickshire), born 1852 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and who was the daughter of James Shaespear Edwards of Weddington. William Edwards Burdett was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Edith Mary, born 1883 and Charles Sydney, born 1888, both his siblings were born in Hinckley, in April 1891 the family home was at 40, Regent Road, Leicester. In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at 30, Blaby Road, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, together with his father, a brewer’s agent, his mother and siblings, Edith and Charles, also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandmother, Ann Edwards, born 1822 in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire. In April 1911 William was employed as a sporting journalist and was residing in the family home at 6, Beckingham Road, Leicester, his wife Lottie Mary Burdett (nee Cunningham, married in the 2nd quarter of 1909 in the Leicester district), born 1884 in Portsmouth Hampshire, was residing in the family home of his parents at Croft, Leicestershire. His parents later resided at Hill Street, Hinckley. On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour, William is recorded as having been a pupil at the school between the years 1899 and 1901.
On Saturday May 29th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “Commission for former Leicester Journalist.” – Mr. W. E. Burdett, eldest son of Mr. Burdett, formerly of Leicester and now of Hinckley, has been granted a commission in the Royal Lancaster Territorials. Mr. W. E. Burdett was formerly a member of the literary staff of the Leicester “Daily Post” and “Mercury,” and is well known in this district, especially in sporting circles.
The War Diary records: 29 Aug-18 – Enemy sent over a number of Yellow Cross gas shells round about Headquarters during the early morning. Heavy shelling of battery position near GORRE all morning with 5.9’s and 4.2’s. The shelling continued in the afternoon and a percentage of Blue Cross gas shells were sent over. Weather still gusty. Commanding Officer had Company Commanders Conference. Commanding Officer called and saw Commanding Officer SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT in the evening and ascertained that the proposed stunt of theirs was not taking place, also that we were not relieving the 1/5th SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT until Friday. Night very dark and overcast.